Many low-income immigrant mothers must navigate an increasingly complex sociopolitical and economic climate to ensure that they meet the household needs of their families. This is particularly true of parents to very young children, who have distinct, often expensive material needs such as formula and diapers, require close supervision, and are highly dependent on caregivers for meals, bathing, and other daily tasks.
According to a new study led by the School of Public Health, low-income immigrant mothers often neglect their own health to prioritize that of their children in the face of economic hardship and a challenging policy landscape. Published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, the study found mothers were under great strain, feeling as though they must perform “mental gymnastics” to balance the family budget and meet their children’s needs, while shielding their children from their worries about being separated through deportation.
During fall 2020, the team interviewed 30 mothers with children under the age of 6. The mothers were recruited through Children’s HealthWatch, a research and policy network that collects and analyzes data on low-income young children and families to advance public policies supportive of their health and development. Qualitative interviews conducted in English or Spanish via telephone were coded to capture emergent themes and to better understand how the participants’ physical and emotional wellbeing were impacted by their economic and political environment. The mothers were asked about their healthcare coverage, birth country, self-identified race and ethnicity, immigration status, and experiences meeting their family’s needs.